Joe Biden to address UN assembly for last time as president
US President Joe Biden — still facing the challenges posed by Ukraine’s effort to repel Russian invaders and in a Middle East mired in war — will look to burnish his foreign policy legacy in a United Nations speech.
With four months left in office, Biden will step up to the green-marbled lectern to address world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday with wars in both regions posing dilemmas likely to outlast his presidency.
As efforts falter to impose a Gaza truce and with Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah waging a cross-border battle, the Pentagon said on Monday it would send a small number of additional troops to the Middle East out of an abundance of caution.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Biden’s presidency has been dominated by foreign policy challenges from Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine to the Palestinian Hamas attack in southern Israel and hostage-taking on October 7 and the resulting Israeli assault on Gaza.
Countering China and Iran, which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah, have consumed major chunks of the president’s time.
A senior administration official said Biden’s speech would allow him to talk up what he considered major achievements of his time in office, to say the international community should support Ukraine and that a diplomatic solution was needed in the Middle East.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on the Air Force One flight to New York that Biden would outline his “vision for how the world should come together to resolve these big problems and defend fundamental principles such as the UN Charter”.
Biden is due to hear from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about a new Ukrainian peace plan when they meet in Washington on Thursday.
A US official said the plan was probably much like previous plans calling for more weaponry and support for Ukraine’s fight.
“We support Ukraine’s pursuit of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace to this war and the president is committed to providing the Ukrainian military with the equipment they need to strengthen their position,” Jean-Pierre said.
Biden’s UN speech will be the centrepiece event of a two-day visit to New York that includes a climate speech later on Tuesday and a meeting on Wednesday with To Lam, the president of Vietnam.
Biden has been eager to deepen relations with the strategic Southeast Asian country and manufacturing hub to counter Russia and China, with which Vietnam retains ties.
